Nearby Words
verb (used with object)
1.
to pull at with force, vigor, or effort.
2.
to move by pulling forcibly; drag; haul.
3.
to tow (a vessel) by means of a tugboat.
verb (used without object)
4.
to pull with force or effort: to tug at a stuck drawer.
5.
to strive hard; labor; toil.
:10
:09
:08
:07
:06
:05
:04
:03
:02
:01
Tug
is one of our favorite verbs.
So is hornswoggle. Does it mean:
| to flee; abscond: |
| to swindle, cheat, hoodwink, or hoax. |
noun
6.
an act or instance of tugging; pull; haul.
7.
a strenuous contest between opposing forces, groups, or persons; struggle: the tug of young minds in a seminar.
8.
9.
that by which something is tugged, as a rope or chain.
10.
(on a harness)
a.
trace2 (def. 1).
b.
any of various supporting or pulling parts.
Origin:
1175–1225; Middle English toggen to play-wrestle, contend; akin to Old English togian to tow1
1175–1225; Middle English toggen to play-wrestle, contend; akin to Old English togian to tow1
Related forms
tug·ger, noun
tug·less, adjective
un·tugged, adjective
Synonyms
1. yank, jerk, wrench.
1. yank, jerk, wrench.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To tug
Collins
World English Dictionary
| tug (tʌɡ) | |
| —vb (when intr, | |
| 1. | to pull or drag with sharp or powerful movements: the boy tugged at the door handle |
| 2. | (tr) to tow (a vessel) by means of a tug |
| 3. | (intr) to work; toil |
| —n | |
| 4. | a strong pull or jerk: he gave the rope a tug |
| 5. | tugboat, Also called: towboat a boat with a powerful engine, used for towing barges, ships, etc |
| 6. | a hard struggle or fight |
| 7. | a less common word for trace |
| [C13: related to Old English tēon to | |
| 'tugger | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
tug
early 13c., from weak grade of O.E. teohan "to pull, drag," from P.Gmc. *teukh- "pull," from PIE *deuk- "to pull, to lead" (see duke). Related to tow (1). The noun is recorded from c.1500; meaning "small steamer used to tow other vessels" is recorded
EXPANDfrom 1817. Phrase tug of war (1670s) was originally figurative, "the decisive contest, the real struggle."
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Cite This Source
Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com
Matching Quote
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.